As pointed out to me by Chris Turver of NZPA-Reuter who was on HMNZS Canterbury. "Even worse, in my view, is lack of recognition by the RNZN and Government for the most spectacular naval operation since the sinking of the Graf Spee. I'm referring to the pressure placed on France to stop atmospheric nuclear testing through international coverage of the protest voyages by Otago and Canterbury. Few people realise that Canterbury witnessed the last atmospheric nuclear test (the 34th) before France was forced by international opinion to go underground and then finally end all Pacific testing.  ....and not a shot was fired!..... Surely it's time the government recognised this achievement with an appropriate memorial."


As mentioned in the documentary screened on TV1 in November 2005, 950 sailors witnessed the British Atomic test in 1959. Only 165 of them survive today. 505 of us witnessed the French Nuclear tests at Mururoa, how many of us survive today? The Captains of both ships are now deceased, one died of heart disease the other of some form of cancer. How many others are deceased? What diseases did they die of? What diseases do the survivors have? Have any of the diseases been passed to our children or our grandchildren? No one knows because there hasn't been a medical survey carried out of crew members of HMNZS Otago and Canterbury that went to Mururoa in 1973. Maybe it's time someone got off their butt and did something about it, or is it the Governments wish to delay a survey as long as possible so that more survivours have passed away.

I acknowlege the fine and hard work that the New Zealand Nuclear Test Veterans Association (NZNTVA) are doing for there members. The minor steps forward that they are gaining has a flow on effect on the Mururoa Veterians also. The NZNTVA convinced the Goverment to have Operation Grapple War Pension status elevated to that of "EMERGENCY", and later the same with the Mururoa Tours. The follow on from this resulted in having  illnesses recognised as radiation related for war disability and surving spouses pensions, to a host of cancers and other conditions that now qualify for war pensions. The NZNTVA obtained Official nuclear medallic recognition for NZ Servicemen involved in the UK/Australian, Operation Grapple, and Mururoa Theatres. Remember that?, we were told that we would never ever receive a medal for our service. The NZNTVA has also sited a plaque in the HMNZS Philomel Chapel, to commemorate all NZ nuclear test veterans, and the service and sacrifice.